GenXmanager: Leadership for the Generation X Manager

Perhaps I’m a bit Pollyanna about the current economic situation but amongst the messages of impending Armageddon, I witnessed something positive last week. Let me explain.

Last week I attended the Graduate Management Admissions Council 2009 MBA Leadership conference. I learned quite a bit and hopefully imparted my own best practices to colleagues in other MBA programs. As expected, many discussed the economy. I heard the woes of furloughs, salary freezes, limited marketing budgets, and the inability to replace vacant positions. However, I also heard talk of innovation, doing more with less, being more effective, more efficient, more creative, and challenging convention.

Then it hit me. Perhaps this recession is needed. It hurts, for sure. But I think it’s needed. Out of the rubble will arise a new kind of organization; one that is agile, flexible, efficient, sustainable, and effective. In good times where is the motivation to radically innovate? It’s there of course and the Google’s of the world will always innovate. But how many organizations truly challenge convention and continually improve processes and technology? In good times there is a likely tendency to become “fat and happy”.

In their book, The Leadership Challenger, Kouzes and Posner state that leaders must “challenge the process”. This recession is forcing all organizations to challenge the process and think in new ways. Change was the mantra of the Obama campaign but the flag of change must waive above all organizations. Change must be the rallying cry that all employees embrace. It’s not change for change sake. It’s not change for survival. It’s change to radically improve the way we do business. It’s change to prepare you for the future economic upswing (yes, the recession will eventually end).

In the UB/Towson MBA program I’m working with the advisors and admissions staff to challenge our processes and ask, “Why do we do it this way?” “Is there a better way?” “How can we streamline this process to benefit both students and MBA staff?” Now is the time for you to be asking these questions in your organization. Don’t be shy. If you see wasteful spending, work to clean it up. If you see a way to improve a process, suggest it.

I’m actually excited by the future. I believe we are on the precipice of something great. So as you watch the local and national news media proclaim that “the end is near”, realize that there is likely a great silver lining ahead.